Wisconsin CPS Faces Scrutiny After Parents Accused of Abuse Over Misdiagnosed Infant Injuries
Photo Credit: “Parent’s Behind The Pinwheels” Facebook Page
Infant Fracture Alarm: How One “Pop” Became a Wisconsin CPS Case
On a Saturday in November 2020, Wisconsin parents Michelle and Evan heard a soft “pop” while changing their five‑week‑old son Phil’s diaper. Phil cried unlike ever before, kicking one leg while holding the other still. Two faint linear marks appeared on his calf.
Their pediatrician said the baby seemed fine but suggested a Monday check‑up if they were still worried. Unwilling to wait, Michelle and Evan drove to a children’s hospital, because their regular clinic could not X‑ray such a young infant.
Hospital X‑Ray Misdiagnosis Triggers CPS and Police
Resident exam: Phil was calm, smiling, and showed no pain while the resident moved his legs. She saw no cause for concern.
Supervising physician: Ordered a precautionary leg X‑ray.
Initial finding: One tibia fracture. The physician said a full skeletal survey was required and that the hospital must notify Wisconsin CPS and police.
Police arrive: Officers told the stunned parents that radiology now suspected four fractures, including a spiral break. After separate interviews, they arrested Evan because he was the last to handle Phil.
Humiliation: Michelle, lacking a breast pump for hours, overheard staff labeling them “child abusers” while she sat soaked and exhausted.
Wisconsin CPS Safety Plan Separates Family
Wisconsin CPS required that:
Evan provide no care at all.
Michelle care for Phil only under supervision.
The family moved in with Michelle’s parents. Evan read books to Phil from the floor, afraid his son might never know his voice if he ended up in jail.
Parents Investigate CPS Medical Record Errors
Reviewing Phil’s records, Michelle discovered:
Fracture count conflict – MyChart listed two “irregularities,” yet CPS paperwork said four healed fractures plus a spiral break.
Fracture classification change – The tibia injury was first documented as non‑displaced, then re‑labelled minimally displaced (implying more force).
Ignored lab results – Elevated parathyroid hormone, low Factor IX, and Michelle’s low prenatal vitamin‑D were never addressed.
Believing Phil had an underlying bone condition, she sought independent opinions.
Second Medical Opinions Reveal Bone Disease, Not Abuse
(Details below come directly from Michelle’s account)
Early December 2020 – A CPS‑contracted medical team visited the family, asked thorough questions, and treated them kindly.
Late December 2020 – CPS lifted supervision and soon closed the case, noting no substantiated abuse (rare, according to the family’s attorneys).
March 2021 – The Bone & Mineral Metabolism Clinic at another hospital disagreed with the four‑fracture claim and ordered genetic testing.
September 2021 – A bone‑health expert reported metabolic bone disease and confirmed only one non‑displaced fracture. Genetic testing revealed a variant of unknown significance in Phil’s FN1 gene, linked to collagen issues.
2021‑2022 – Additional specialists (radiologist, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and a geneticist familiar with rare variants) suggested Phil’s findings fit Spondylometaphyseal Dysplasia Corner‑Type, an inherited bone fragility condition, plus rickets‑like changes.
Despite these opinions, the original hospital’s child‑abuse pediatrician maintained an abuse diagnosis and delayed submitting her report for over a year.
Criminal Charges Dropped: Wisconsin CPS Case Ends
Multiple judge and district‑attorney changes prolonged the criminal case. In December 2023—more than three years after the diaper‑change incident—Evan accepted a deferred‑prosecution agreement (parenting class and community service). Charges were dismissed.
The family, now including twin daughters, is finally together, though the financial and emotional toll remains.
Why Wisconsin CPS Reform Matters
Michelle and Evan’s story shows how a single misinterpreted X‑ray can unleash: arrests, family separation, and years of uncertainty. Their experience supports calls for:
Mandatory independent second opinions before CPS action in injury cases.
Timely corrections of medical reports when follow‑up evidence contradicts initial findings.
The Psychological Toll of Wrongful CPS Intervention
Families like Michelle and Evan’s experience immense emotional, psychological, and financial harm. And for the children involved, the trauma of unnecessary removal can be lifelong.
According to the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform and other sources (NCCPR):
Children removed have worse emotional and academic outcomes than similarly situated children left at home.
Foster youth are twice as likely to suffer from behavioral and emotional disorders.
35–40% of foster boys end up incarcerated by age 19.
50% of foster kids become homeless within 18 months of aging out of the system.
60-70% of kids in human trafficking have history in the foster care system.
Counties receive on average of $41,821-$198,933/yr per child that is placed into the system. This is far greater than the average families income for an entire year.
Even short-term removals damage the parent-child bond, disrupt breastfeeding and sleep patterns, and introduce intense fear and uncertainty.
Why Wisconsin CPS Needs Reform
This case exposes critical flaws in Wisconsin CPS procedures. Michelle and Evan were fortunate—CPS eventually closed their case favorably. But that didn’t undo the arrest, the family separation, or the emotional devastation.
Experts agree: states like Wisconsin must implement better safeguards. One reform gaining traction is mandatory second medical opinions before CPS takes action. These reviews should include:
Radiologists and pediatric orthopedic specialists
Geneticists to rule out inherited conditions
Collaboration with CPS and hospitals before families are disrupted
Had this been standard practice, Michelle and Evan’s ordeal might have ended in days—not years.
Wisconsin CPS and the Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about one family. Wisconsin CPS operates within a national system prone to overreach, secrecy, and a lack of accountability. Families across the country have shared similar stories through advocacy networks like Parents Behind the Pinwheels and the Father’s Advocacy Network.
Their stories call for transparency, second opinions, and meaningful reform to prevent trauma masquerading as protection.
Moving Forward: A Hopeful Yet Cautious Future
Today, Michelle and Evan have welcomed twin daughters and are trying to rebuild what was nearly lost. Their son Phil is thriving. But the scars remain. Their story is a powerful example of why family preservation must take priority when no imminent danger exists.
We stand with families like theirs. We advocate for common-sense policies that protect children without destroying innocent families in the process.
Sources:
Parents Behind the Pinwheels (Original Testimony)
Pediatrics Journal (2022): Misdiagnosed Abuse Statistics
NCCPR.org: Child Removal Impact Studies
University of South Florida and Harvard Medical School: Family Separation Reports
National Foster Youth Institute: Foster Youth Outcomes
